Articles by Kelly Makiha
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National
'Money talks': Family posts $8000 reward in search for missing teacher
Saturday, 25 October 2025, 8:21amA Tokoroa family desperate to find missing teacher Jayleb-Che Dean have pulled together an $8000 reward in the hope that...
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National
Watch: 'Unreal' rugby club blaze caught on video
Wednesday, 22 October 2025, 1:51pmA night shift worker who caught the Whakarewarewa Rugby Community Sports Club blaze on video says it was “horrible to see”. Security...
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National
Playground pooper chased off after foul act shocks locals
Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 8:59pmA playground pooper who wiped his hands on children’s play equipment after defecating nearby was chased off by hearty Koutu...
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National
Decades of trophies and taonga lost as fire guts rugby clubrooms
Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 12:05pmRotorua’s oldest rugby club lost its clubrooms and memorabilia in a devastating fire. Club president Marty Hatu said the...
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Sport
'Kids are still dying': Joint inquest considered into four motocross crash deaths
Friday, 17 October 2025, 10:13amThe spotlight will go on children’s motocross riding in New Zealand as a coroner considers whether four similar deaths will...
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National
Teen fighting aggressive cancer finds new hope after given weeks to live
Friday, 10 October 2025, 7:11amA Rotorua teenager battling aggressive cancer was given two weeks to live nearly three weeks ago. But her mother is not...
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Crime
Man with 5000 child abuse images avoids prison term
Friday, 19 September 2025, 2:32pmWarning: Readers may find the offending described in this story distressing. James Chas Henry Ware was found in possession...
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National
How a cop beat a $70 parking ticket in court after app wouldn't let him pay
Saturday, 6 September 2025, 8:20amA Rotorua police sergeant has won a court battle over a disputed $70 parking ticket, following frustrations with a parking...
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Crime
Gangs, meth and a murder trial: Why a key Crown witness changed loyalty to Mob boss
Friday, 5 September 2025, 2:37pmHours after killing a rival gang member, a Mongrel Mob boss asked a woman who helped him get away “do I need to worry about...
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Crime
Motel murder: Mongrel Mob president's trial begins
Tuesday, 26 August 2025, 8:44pmRyan Woodford was shot in an execution-style gang retaliation killing in the doorway of his emergency housing motel in Taupō...
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National
Rotorua homicide victim remembered as 'ray of sunshine'
Friday, 22 August 2025, 12:07pmA man who died at a Trigg Ave house in Rotorua this week is being remembered as a loved kapa haka performer who entertained...
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Crime
Twelve charged with murder in Zain Taikato-Fox case
Thursday, 21 August 2025, 3:44pmPolice have today charged 12 people for the murder of a Rotorua man last month – seven of those charged are from the small...
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National
Man in court for drugged driving causing toddler's death
Thursday, 14 August 2025, 1:56pmA man has appeared in the Rotorua District Court charged with drugged driving causing the death of a 2-year-old girl at Mamaku. The...
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National
Homeless woman blames medication for public sex act
Tuesday, 12 August 2025, 8:30pmA homeless woman has admitted doing an indecent act in a public place after she and a man were caught having sex near Rotorua’s...
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National
'Tragic consequences': Rhythm and Vines road-trip tragedy ends in court
Saturday, 9 August 2025, 8:12amJade Richards was only 20km from making it home safely to Rotorua after four nights partying at the Rhythm and Vines music...
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National
Family outraged as kuia's image used on Hobson's Pledge billboard without consent
Wednesday, 6 August 2025, 2:01pmThe family of a Rotorua kuia whose image was used on a Hobson’s Pledge billboard without her permission say the political...
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National
Man involved in daylight gang shooting breaches home detention
Tuesday, 5 August 2025, 3:36pmAn offender who vowed to change his ways and was spared a jail sentence for his role in a Rotorua gang shooting has breached...
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National
Snapchat predator raped teen while on bail for similar offending
Tuesday, 15 July 2025, 7:06amWarning: This story deals with details of sexual violence and may be distressing. A sexual predator who groomed a Rotorua...
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National
Tearful hunter admits shooting and killing friend
Saturday, 12 July 2025, 8:11amMark Kelvin Jefferson said the word “guilty” through tears as he admitted causing the death of a friend in a hunting incident. Stuart...
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National
'Horrible': Memorial for deaf, blind man killed in alleged hit-and-run is destroyed
Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 11:14amFlowers laid in tribute at the spot where a deaf and blind man was killed in an alleged hit-and-run in Rotorua have been...
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National
How a routine traffic stop exposed a Snapchat rapist who attacked a 13yo Rotorua girl
Tuesday, 8 July 2025, 9:17amWarning: This story deals with details of sexual assault and may be distressing. A 13-year-old Rotorua girl befriended by...
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Crime
Rotorua teen prostitution ring: Farmer and prostitute sentenced
Friday, 4 July 2025, 3:17pmWarning: Distressing content Two people involved in a Rotorua teen prostitution ring that has been described as “social dysfunction...
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National
Blind and deaf man dies after hit-and-run, police release new images of suspect
Thursday, 19 June 2025, 1:23pmThe blind and deaf man critically injured after a hit-and-run at a Rotorua pedestrian crossing has died. Paige Johnson was...
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National
CCTV of rider released after blind, deaf cancer survivor struck in hit-and-run
Tuesday, 17 June 2025, 3:44pmPolice have released a security camera image of a motorcyclist they say ran over a blind and deaf cancer survivor on Edmund...
